In Remembrance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Revered by many Thais as a beloved father figure and a beacon of peace and stability, King Bhumibol Adulyadej devoted his life to development projects that greatly improved the livelihoods of many. His Majesty was not only a caring and dedicated King but also a talented musician, photographer and painter. Adorning shops, living rooms and offices nationwide, portraits of His Majesty continue to be proudly displayed as a symbol of love and respect for his legacy.
The month of October marks a year since King Bhumibol’s passing, and we at Friends for Asia would like to express our deepest condolences to the people of Thailand and share useful information about the Royal Funeral for our volunteers or anyone who would like to pay their final respects to the late King. The Royal Funeral will take place from the 25th to the 29th of October 2017 with the cremation ceremony set to take place on Thursday, the 26th of October.
Royal Funeral Timeline
The 25th October 2017 – A royal merit-making ritual will be held at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne inside the Grand Palace at 5.30 p.m. before the late King’s body is moved to the Royal Crematorium at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.
The 26th October 2017 – The late King’s body will be moved from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to the Royal Crematorium at 7.00am The cremation ceremony will take place between 5.30 – 10.00pm, and the actual cremation is scheduled for 10.00pm
*Performances, including puppet shows, orchestras and ‘Khon’ masked dance dramas, will be held to pay a final tribute to the late King from 6.00pm to 6.00am the following day.
The 27th October 2017 – Royal relics will first be collected at the Royal Crematorium at 8.00 a.m. then will later be moved to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.
The 28th October 2017 – The final merit-making service for the royal relics will be held at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at 5.30pm.
The 29th October 2017 – The royal relics will be kept and enshrined with a merit-making ceremony at Chakri Maha Prasat at 10.30 a.m. Later in the day at 5.30pm, the ashes of the late King will be transferred and enshrined at Ratchabophit temple and Bovoranives temple.
After the Royal Cremation Ceremony, the Royal Crematorium will be open to the public for 30 days (1st – 30th November 2017) to educate the public about this Royal Ceremony.
Dress code for attending the Royal Funeral at Sanam Luang and the offering of sandalwood flower ceremony at Royal Crematorium replicas
With a total of 85 replicas of the Royal Crematorium nationwide, there is one in each of the 76 provinces and nine in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. All crematorium replicas will be open for members of the public to place sandalwood flowers on the 26th of October between the hours of 9.00am to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 10.00pm. For those who wish to attend the Royal Funeral or the ceremony held at the replicas, please refer to the following dress code:
• Men must wear a black dress shirt, long black trousers and black dress shoes. Please note that denim pants and open-toed shoes are strictly prohibited.
• Women must wear a black blouse that is not too tight, a black skirt that extends below the knees and black dress shoes that cover the heels. Please note that sleeveless and spaghetti tops are strictly prohibited.
It is also highly recommended to bring your personal ID, personal medicine, an umbrella or a fan and drinking water with you.
Mourners will be separated into nine lines with nine people in each line.
Mourners will pick up sandalwood flower from staff before walking to the assigned spots.
Once mourners are in their assigned spots, they are to bow, pay their respects and place the sandalwood flower on the stand. This step is then followed by another bow.
Finally, mourners are to walk out as assigned, either to the right or left exits.
We at Friends for Asia are deeply saddened by the passing of HM King Bhumibol who has always been a source of inspiration to us all. Although the Royal Cremation is the final tribute to the beloved King, his legacy will continue to live on in our hearts and minds.
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